SPAS WITH PANACHE The Ultimate Oasis Mayflower Spa raises the bar
for sybaritic experiences in
Litchfield County, Connecticut.
By Diana Mehl
The inn’s Main House surrounded by a soft blanket
of snow during winter.
A focal point of the Garden Room at the Spa
House is William De Kooning’s Untitled
XII hanging above the sofa.
One of the spa’s eight state-of-the-art
treatment rooms.
All rooms feature
antique four-poster beds draped in richly
patterned fabrics.
Since 1992, Adriana
and Robert Mnuchin’s Mayflower Inn, a Five-Star,
Five-Diamond country hotel set in bucolic Washington,
CT, has won numerous accolades and a discerning and
loyal clientele for its spectacular natural setting,
lavish decor, exquisite cuisine and impeccable service.
This past June, after three yeas of planning and building,
the Mnuchins, along with their daughter, Lisa Hedley,
have again exceeded expectations – with the opening
of the Mayflower Spa, the country’s ne
plus ultra of luxury destination spas.
Set amid the inn’s masterfully landscaped 58-acre
property, the new Spa House is a 20,000-square-foot
oasis for the mind, body and spirit. The spa is centered
on the majestic, light-filled Garden Room overlooking
the property’s Blue Heron Pond. There guests
can enjoy William De Kooning’s lyrical painting
Untitled XII – just one of many artworks from
the Mnuchin’s personal collection that grace
the complex – while awaiting their treatment
therapist. Radiating from this central space are eight
state-of-the-art treatment rooms (including a couples’ suite),
a heated indoor pool, a scented thermal sanctuary,
a mosaic-domed whirlpool, two steam rooms, four exercises
studios (including a Pilates studio), a dining room,
a salon and dressing rooms, all designed in soothing
pastel shades to promote serenity and a sense of well-being.
Like many destination spas, the Mayflower offers three-,
four-, and five-day midweek women-only packages that
are all-inclusive. The spa also offers specialty weeks
for men, couples, mothers and daughters, and fathers
and sons. In addition, all weekend guests can enjoy
the spa’s amenities through a choice of two spa
plans or on an à la carte basis.
A personal Spa Advisor helps visitors craft a highly
individualized program of activities to help them realize
their goals, a necessity rather than a luxury given
the dizzying array of available spa and salon treatments,
indoor and outdoor exercise classes, aquatic classes
and mind-spirit workshops.
Pampering spa treatments include a full range of facials,
body scrubs and wraps, therapeutic baths, Thai massage,
shiatsu, reflexology, Reiki and lymphatic massage.
Signature treatments include the Wild Lime Shiatsu
Fusion, a blend of shiatsu with Swedish massage, and
the Mayflower Sweet Surrender, a blend of craniosacral,
lymphatic and acupressure techniques to induce deep
relaxation.
There are fitness classes galore: Aquatic dance, swim-stroke
clinics, cardio-kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, ballet and
targeted toning are several of the options. Depending
on the season, outdoor fitness activities include scenic
hikes in the adjacent Steeprock Reserve, nature walks,
mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing,
kayaking, fly-fishing, archery, tennis and golf.
Finally, classes in music therapy, meditation, feng
shui, knitting, flower arranging, memoir writing, painting
and nutrition help guests explore ways to nurture their
creativity and achieve total mind relaxation.
The Mayflower’s famously luxurious accommodations
and justly celebrated dining experience further enhance
the state of sheer bliss. Guests can choose from 21
rooms and 9 suites spread among the inn’s four
buildings. Each room has its own completely distinctive
decor and features antique four-poster beds made up
with plush Frette linens, Tabriz rugs, fireplaces,
huge marble baths with custom botanical bath products,
flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi access. Extraordinary executive
chef Timothy Au prepares the health-conscious cuisine
conceived by award-winning spa chef Cary Neff. The
delectable meals emphasize local and organic produce
and are a highlight of any stay.
The Mayflower
Inn & Spa
Washington, CT
860.868.9466; www.mayflowerinn.com
